Opponent: Texas Rangers
When: 1:05 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Net (Ch. 30).
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM)
Probable pitchers: Left-hander Jamie Moyer (1-0, 0.00) vs. right-hander Pedro Astacio (0-0, 10.38)
Franklin to start
With left-hander Bobby Madritsch expected to miss at least one start, Ryan Franklin could get his wish Monday.
The right-handed starter-turned-reliever is expected to come out of the bullpen in place of Madritsch, who is nursing a sore left shoulder.
Manager Mike Hargrove said that Franklin will “probably” take Madritsch’s Monday start, giving Joel Pineiro a few more days of recovery from shoulder soreness that landed him on the disabled list last month.
Franklin started 32 games last season, but had a 4-16 record and 4.90 ERA. A rough spring, as well as the addition of veteran Aaron Sele, meant Franklin would be relegated to the bullpen this season.
He has two relief appearances this season, allowing three hits and one run in four innings of work.
Three hours before Friday’s game, Madritsch expressed optimism about the shoulder pain that had brought his Wednesday start to an abrupt end. A subsequent MRI had come up negative, and Madritsch said he expected a quick recovery.
But later in the afternoon, after meeting with team doctor Larry Pedegana, Madritsch sat at his locker with a look of frustration. Later came word that Madritsch was still feeling discomfort in his shoulder and that he is scheduled to undergo an augmented MRI today, with results due Sunday.
Madritsch felt a pain in his shoulder during his season debut on Wednesday.
“It’s never bothered me until that one pitch,” Madritsch said after participating in fielding drills with Seattle’s other pitchers Friday afternoon. “I thought maybe it was the way I threw that one pitch. So I tried another pitch, a changeup, and felt it again. So I shut it down.”
Early risers: While the Mariners’ opening series of the season saw them get some early offense, the runs quickly dried up.
Seattle scored 10 runs in the first innings of the three games against Minnesota, but did not score in innings 4 through 9. The Mariners had seven runs in the first inning alone.
By contrast, Seattle was outscored 11-0 in the fourth and fifth innings.
Unofficially on fire: Including the final 13 games of last season, right fielder Ichiro Suzuki has hit safely in 17 consecutive games. He had two hits in each of Seattle’s first three games this season, then led off Friday’s game with a single.
Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game streak won’t be in jeopardy anytime soon, however, as official hitting streaks are only recognized over the course of a single season. That means Suzuki’s official hitting streak stands at four games.
Little sexy: The Mariners are giving away Richie Sexson T-shirts to kids 12-and-under before today’s game.
As of Friday afternoon, about 19,000 tickets still remained for that game. About 20,000 are still available for Sunday’s afternoon game against Texas.
Scott M. Johnson, Herald Writer
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
